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House Committees Eye Climate Bill Under Deadline

"House Natural Resources Chairman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) hopes to add a major oil and gas title to the Democratic energy and climate bill, but it remains unclear whether he will get the chance as House leaders aim to speed the bill's progress.

Rahall's staff last month circulated [language] that would raise onshore royalty rates, end the royalty-in-kind program, overhaul planning and regulation for onshore and outer continental shelf energy development, and impose a series of ethics reforms, among other features.

'I'd prefer to have it attached to the climate bill, because when we're talking about energy, it should be in a comprehensive piece of legislation,' Rahall told E&E yesterday. 'Now is the time to do it, in a nonpolitical season without the emotions attached there to and at a time when the price of the pump is relatively low compared to where it was when we heard 'drill baby drill'' he added."